U.S. patent number 4,810,031 [Application Number 07/240,260] was granted by the patent office on 1989-03-07 for combination portable seat and trash container.
Invention is credited to Jack O. Patterson.
United States Patent |
4,810,031 |
Patterson |
March 7, 1989 |
Combination portable seat and trash container
Abstract
A combination portable seat and trash container consisting of a
hollow rectangular cube made of rigid plastic having a bottom
rectangular rim, four legs extending upwardly from the bottom rim,
and a rectangular-shaped top rim resting on the legs, the top rim
having three straight members and a fourth member having a V-shape,
a trash container located in the space defined by the rectangular
cube structure, and a seat cushion mounted on the top rim. The
space defined by the seat cushion and the V-shaped member of the
top rim defining an opening and providing for access to the trash
container within the cube structure.
Inventors: |
Patterson; Jack O. (Memphis,
TN) |
Family
ID: |
22905817 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/240,260 |
Filed: |
September 6, 1988 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/188.12;
248/97; 248/99; 297/188.09; D34/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
13/00 (20130101); B65F 1/06 (20130101); B65F
2220/106 (20130101); B65F 2230/144 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
13/00 (20060101); A47C 007/62 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/192,193,188
;248/95,97,99 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McCall; James T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Mulrooney; John J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A combination seat and trash container comprising:
a bottom rim designed to form a plane surface for engaging the
ground or other flat surface;
legs adapted to engage and be supported by said bottom rim and
extending upwardly therefrom;
a top rim supported by said legs and designed to form a plane
surface, said top rim having a V-shaped member, whereby a
receptacle opening is formed between said plane surface and said
V-shaped member;
a receptacle supported by said top rim: and
a seat cushion adapted to cover and be supported by said top
rim.
2. The combination seat and trash container of claim 1, wherein
said bottom rim and said top rim comprise integral units which are
separable from said legs.
3. The combination seat and trash container of claim 1, wherein
said receptacle comprises a plastic bag.
4. The combination seat and trash container of claim 1, wherein
said bottom rim, said legs and said top rim comprise PVC straight
tube members and joints.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a new and improved COMBINATION PORTABLE
SEAT AND TRASH CONTAINER.
In the past, there have been seating devices which have combined
the features of collapsibility and space for the stowage of gear.
Such prior devices have been complicated, or heavy, or expensive to
manufacture, or awkward in appearance, and have usually been quite
limited in relation to size and the amount of stowage space. See,
for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,163,759: 2,375,819; 3,128,137: and
3,290,089. An attempt has been made in U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,745 to
provide a combination bar stool and refuse container; however, that
device is not portable or collapsible, and is not designed or
intended for use in such outdoor places as patios and boats.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a very
simple, inexpensive to manufacture, portable combined seat and
trash container having a comparatively large stowage space.
Another object of this invention is to provide a combination seat
and trash container that is of lightweight construction as to be
readily movable, and that can be collapsed or broken down to be
stored or transported in a minimum amount of space.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination
seat and trash container having a design that permits the person
using the seat to have access to the trash receptacle without
moving from the seat.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination
seat and trash container useful with market available trash
bags.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination
seat and trash container comprising structural components
manufactured as standard items in various sizes, thereby enabling
the invention to be economically designed and manufactured in many
different sizes.
Another object of this invention is to provide a combination seat
and trash container that is lightweight yet stable as to be useful
on boats and other outdoor places.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a combination seat and
trash container is constructed of pieces of durable PVC plastic
tubing and PVC joints assembled in the shape of a hollow
rectangular cube. One member of the top of the cube is shaped in
the form of a V. The size of the cube structure is such that the
mouth of a market available plastic bag will fit over the cube
frame. A seat is positioned on the side of the cube having the
V-shaped member, whereby the space defined by the seat and the
V-shaped member provides an opening for access to the trash
container in the cube structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and additional objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent by reference to the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof
in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention including the seat
cushion and trash container;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention without the seat
cushion and the trash container; and
FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the invention, without the
seat cushion and the trash container, and showing the "V" shaped
trash opening.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like
reference numbers denote like parts, the combination portable seat
and trash container is generally designated by the reference number
10. The seat structure or frame comprises a bottom rim or base
generally designated by reference number 20 comprising straight or
tube members 21, 22, 23, and 24: and 90-degree side exit joint
corners 25, 26, 27 and 28. The bottom rim members are designed to
form a plane surface to engage the ground or floor surface where
the invention is used.
Legs comprising straight or tube members 30, 32, 34 and 36 engage
and extend upwardly from corner joints 25, 26, 27 and 28,
respectively.
A top rim generally indicated by the reference number 40 comprises
90-degree side exit joint corners 41, 42, 43, and 44: and straight
or tube members 45, 46 and 47. The top rim members 41 through 47
are designed to form a plane surface adapted to receive and support
a seat cushion 60.
One member of the top rim 40 comprises 45-degree joints 50 and 52,
straight or tube members 54 and 56 and a 90-degree joint 58, all
connected between joint corners 41 and 42, to form an V-shaped
opening 59 immediately below the plane of top rim 40.
The seat cushion 60 may be a vinyl covered foam pad and plywood
assembly having corner blocks (not shown) on the bottom thereof
which are useful to locate and maintain the seat cushion on the top
rim 40.
The size of the top rim 40 is designed so that the opening of a
market available plastic bag 62 will fit over, and be supported by,
the top rim 40 and the plastic bag will occupy the space defined by
the bottom rim 20, the legs 30, 32, 34 and 36, the top rim 40 and
the seat cushion 60.
All of the straight members and joints of this invention are made
of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or other suitable, durable, hollow and
lightweight material having sufficient strength and rigidity. All
of the PVC parts of the seat structure are items which are
manufactured as standard items in various sizes, thereby enabling
the structure to be economically designed and manufactured in
different sizes for use with different sizes of market available
plastic bags. For example, for a seat assembly comprising legs
which are 15" long and 1" inner diameter, and a top rim having 13"
straight members and a bottom rim having 13" straight members, a 30
gallon bag will fit snugly over the opening defined by top rim
40.
The combination seat and trash container may be designed to be
totally collapsible and portable by allowing for the disassembly of
all members. However, the inventor has found that by gluing the top
rim members together, and the bottom rim members together, and
permitting the four legs to be separable from the top and bottom
rims, the invention is stable during use, yet readily collapsible
into eight distinct parts (top rim, bottom rim, four legs, cushion
and trash bag) to allow the invention to be highly portable and/or
to be stored in a minimum of space.
A person desiring to use the combination seat and trash container
on a boat, or a patio, or other location, will place the bottom rim
on a flat surface, insert the four upstanding legs into the bottom
rim, and place the top rim on the legs. The opening of a plastic
bag will then be placed around the top rim 40 and the plastic bag
62 will be pulled into the space defined by the seat structure.
After the seat cushion is placed on the top rim, a person can sit
on the seat and place trash into the plastic bag through V-shaped
receptacle opening 59 without leaving the seat.
Thus, it will be readily seen that the present invention provides a
combination seat and trash container which is portable,
collapsible, durable, lightweight and stable, which may be
economically constructed from parts that are manufactured as
standard items, and which permits a person seated thereon to
dispose of trash in the container without moving from the seat.
From the foregoing, it will now be seen that there is herein
provided and disclosed a combination seat and trash container which
accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others,
including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial
importance.
While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it
is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope
of the present invention.
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